Jewish Gospel at ALEPH Kallah: HalleluYah!

[CelestialChoir]

I love hearing the young girl praise God with all her might! "God inhabits the praises of His people...! Y'all doing all that shouting down at the synagogue...I might have to stop by and visit...LOL PRAISE HIM WITH ALL YOU'VE GOT!

[CelestialChoir]

I like this song and the joyful, upbeat singing--totally BIBLICAL worship and it's great to see the shul rock the house in praise of God! I was raised in the Black Pentecostal tradition--and guess what?--we're now singing all kinds of Hebraic choruses, chants and blessings...drawn from various Jewish traditions. So now there are synagogues borrowing our music--why not? Jews have always loved black music and are not afraid to FEEL emotion--so y'all go ahead and PRAISE HIM ANYHOW!

[imelda4jesus]

nice but they dont look like they are genuinely worshiping God, it looks like a show off of different voices/talents. PPl are focusing on the voice n not the worship. Dats my opinion anyway.

[talitim]

Please post a lecha dodi, and yedid nefesh. I would love to hear gospel versions of the traditional and liturgical jewish songs.

[jaymagic54]

You can't separate "musical style" from "what people are singing". Singing is words in music. The "style" of music communicates volumes about culture and belief. As for the Maoz Tzur niggun, I think that as of today, it is distinctively Jewish. However, had I been in Germany at the time of Martin Luther, and if what you say is true, I would have opposed adopting the tune-- the same as if someone wanted to sing it to the tune of "Silent Night" today.

[OrCohen93]

Awesome!!!

Judaism rocks! proud on everyone of you!

Haleluya!

[dadetruman]

who wrote this song please?

D

[dreyfalex]

Cantor Lisa Levine composed this music.

[Csabax1001]

It's great! Please, somebody tell me what version is it of Halleluyah music.

[tzedekyahu]

everything I have been told, is that one is still Jewish, just apostate, because there is no sin from which one cannot repent...just saying.

Love to hear the Yidden sing!

[basselyrique]

And what these Yidden should repent for? For not davening dressed in black with shtreimels and wigs? THIS is for sure much closer the ancient Hebrews' way of musical worship than a shtetl-style ghetto Judaism.

[tzedekyahu]

I'm not sure if this is directed at my comment, but I was commenting on someone saying that a Jew who has become a Christian is no longer a Jew. Truth in music is in the ear of the beholder. Unless maybe you witnessed ancient Hebrew musical worship firsthand, in which case I'll retract that argument.

[dreyfalex]

Just to clarify, this is a Jewish Renewal group, not a Messianic Jewish group. We are simply singing psalms to G-d the way they were meant to be sung--ecstatically. As it is said: "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!" Halleluyah!!!

[jaymagic54]

If you are are Jewish Renewal group, it eludes me why,instead of drawing on our own traditions and culture, you would employ a Christian musical idiom (Gospel) having its musical roots in fetish-worshiping West African cultures. Please, start familiarizing yourself with the varieties of Jewish music-- if you explore it, you will find the ecstasy, enthusiasm and spirituality you seek-- and be drawn closer both to Hashem and Klal Yisroel in the process. Shalom.

[dreyfalex]

Happy to respond. I've sung in klezmer bands and am actually quite familiar with varieties of Jewish music. The Jewish community has consistently borrowed from other ethnical musical styles through history. That goes for liturgical music as well.  The African-American community has valuable gifts to offer us just as Eastern mysticism has, and I think that it is time to stop being so petrified of Christian spiritual forms. Gospel is a tool to bring the ecstatic joy back into our davvenen.

[jaymagic54]

Sure, there are borrowings-- klezmer from tzegeyner, Sephardic from Andalusian, etc. I disagree about borrowing liturgical forms from other religions. There are no Jewish Gregorian Chants. I actually like Gospel music, but "Jewish Gospel" is an oxymoron. Can you really not find Jewish music to bring back joy? No offense, but where do you daven that the joy is so absent? I bet the problem isn't the music, it's people's kavanah. Perhaps a dose of chasidism would help. Shalom

[dreyfalex]

I'm guessing you are thinking about Reb Shlomo's melodies. It might interest you to know that he frequented gospel churches in New York in developing his style. I heard via the Carlebach shul that his habit of addressing us as holy brothers and holy sisters he took from those churches. Also, you are wrong about not borrowing our liturgical music. And, by the way, there are studies that say the gregorian chant was originally borrowed from us! But for our retake on it, see Salamone Rossi.

[auitane]

@jaymagic54 Actually, there's a good deal of evidence that the traditional tune for Maoz Tzur was a German folk-melody also employed by Martin Luther in chorales. Really, they're just musical styles. Its what people are singing that matters.

[basselyrique]

What is this for a comment? The entire Eastern European style of Jewish music is entirely goyisch. Or the Mizrachi music? There is NO such thing as the typical music of Klal Israel!

[Shoggibug]

Go Elly!!

[DontGamble]

Never heard of Jews for J?

Of course the above completely contradicts the real bible...

Besides, I didnt hear them speak about J...

[Shoggibug]

My best friend is the little girl who had a solo! she wrote it herself!!! i love this!!!!

[JohnFEIZI]

Praise the lord..Halleluyah...

[dreyfalex]

Eliana Dreyfus. Look her up on Google.

[267meme]

"e"for effort, white mountain people always trying to emulate "BLACK FOLKS" just can't do. rate you "e" for effort. keep tryin i guess "G-d" appreciates your effort.

[BoundtoYeshua]

I think the Almighty looks more at the praise in the heart of the person who is singing than in their voice or rhythm. YAWWEH could care less about skin color. He is no respector of persons and favors no one bragging of their racial abilities. All that will turn to dust one day.

[pray4jerusalem]

HalleluYAH - Praise YAH.

[jewishrenewal]

WAY COOL!

I have more Gospel that I will put up soon, same person.

[OCARLIN1]

Excellent song ! I play it every morning before start working.

[rasero27]

I like the song, but some of the people dancing in the audience need to learn to be a little bit more modest. E.g., the lady at the beginning in the purple shirt, the way she was moving her behind you would have thought she was at a nightclub. Then the lady standing on the chair in the back. I hope Messianic Jews don't turn into crazy charismatics who lose all order. The messianic synagogue I attended had praise & worship, but you need to be reverent and modest, it's distracting. Good song.

[Spankermanbr]

the voice of the little girl is very beautiful. I can already hear or feel that desire to cry. is a very powerful voice! Who is it? she sings some more music? thank you!

* Translated text.

[Shoggibug]

Her name is Eliana. She doesn't have any other videos out but she is working on making a CD with the other singers in her musical family!!!!!!

[MissJew]

Yeahhhh ! I'm dancing !!

[domcal2]

Wonderful! Praise the Lord!!!!!!

[jewishrenewal]

YO SHARON!

We need more gospel!!!!

[Brightstar27]

I have always loved the Jewish people. Your culture and history. And now, your voices.

[NeoChasid]

Thank You Sharon for that Beautiful song!

[dfygravity360]

Go pint-sized soloist!!!

Love,

The one with the same name!

[dreyfalex]

Anyone interested in having this kind of ecstatic choral experience in your own community should contact me at my website, ShirEcstasy. Sharon

[shechinah18]

Great job Sharon, bringing such spirit to the Jews!. can you post the names of the soloist for those of us who werent there? Thanks, Ayla !! GRR

[dreyfalex]

Apologies if my comment comes up several times. I've been trying to respond but my response never shows up.

The outrageous solists for HalleluYah are Binah Burney and 11 year old Eliana Dreyfus. Magnificent solos were also sung by Didi Thomas and Marge Eiseman on Praise Yah and by Belle Halpern on Send it on Down.

[dreyfalex]

By the way, the composer of the two pieces from which this medley was arranged is Cantor Lisa Levine. Her Jospel pieces can be ordered directly from her thru her website.

Sharon

[shiraliora]

What inspired music making! The pint-sized soloist rocks!!!

[dreyfalex]

You gotta smile and sway when you hear this! Jewish Gospel! And what about that pint-sized soloist!?